What is psychology? Your introduction to the field
By Sarah VercoePublished on
Curious about psychology but unsure where it could take you? We’re breaking down exactly what psychology is, the different branches within the field, and how it’s used in everyday life.
What is psychology?
If you’re trying to define psychology, it’s the study of the human mind and behaviour. It looks at how people think, act, and feel, as well as the ‘why’ behind each.
Drawing on research, psychologists help us understand everything from everyday decisions and relationships to complex mental health challenges. They explore the many things that shape human behaviour, including how we make decisions, build relationships, respond to stress, learn new skills and change throughout our lives.
It’s a big umbrella, and one that covers dozens of specialisations, each looking at a different part of the human experience. This mix of science and curiosity about people is what makes psychology useful across so many areas of life.
Get inspired by your career options
Discover the roles where you can make a difference in psychology and mental health.
What does psychology involve?
Psychology starts with questions about people, like: Why do we develop certain habits? How do we process emotions? What helps people recover after difficult experiences?
Different branches of psychology explore these questions from different angles.
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology focuses on understanding and treating mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders. It's the area many people think of first when they hear ‘psychology’, often because of its connection to therapy and mental health support.
Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology examines mental processes like memory, attention, problem-solving and language. It asks how people take in information, store it and use it to make decisions.
Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology studies how people grow and change across their lifespan, from infancy through to old age. It covers everything from how children acquire language to how and how our brains and behaviour change as we grow older.
Social psychology
Social psychology looks at how other people influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It covers topics like group dynamics, conformity, prejudice and persuasion.
Organisational psychology
Organisational psychology (sometimes called industrial-organisational psychology) applies psychological principles to workplaces. It focuses on things like employee wellbeing, leadership, motivation, and team performance.
Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology applies psychological knowledge to legal and criminal justice settings. It covers areas like assessing offender risk, supporting court processes, and helping law enforcement understand and limit criminal behaviour.
These are just some of the better-known branches. Psychology is incredibly broad and can extend into areas like health, sports, education, neuropsychology, and many more. To delve even deeper, read our guide to different psychology fields.
Why is psychology important?
Psychology matters because it’s a tool that helps us understand and improve how people think, feel, and behave in all aspects of life, not just in a therapy room. It can inform decisions in healthcare, education, business, government, and beyond.
Human behaviour touches almost everything we do, and anywhere people are involved, psychological insight has something to offer.
Healthcare
Psychology helps healthcare professionals understand the experiences of patients, including how people cope with illness, manage pain, make health decisions and adjust to change.
Education
Understanding how people learn, retain information, and stay motivated is what helps shape how schools and universities design curriculums, support students and manage classroom behaviour.
Workplaces
Organisations apply psychology to improve hiring practices, leadership development, team culture and employee wellbeing. Even job interviews and performance reviews draw on psychological research.
Justice and law enforcement
Psychology helps courts assess witness reliability, supports rehabilitation programs, and can help inform how police and legal professionals approach interviews and investigations.
Technology and design
User experience designers, marketers and product teams can draw on psychological principles to understand everything from how people interact with apps and websites to how they choose products.
Where can psychology take you?
If you study psychology, you’re opening yourself up to a bigger range of career paths than many people realise, both within and outside traditional mental health settings.
Some graduates continue into professional psychology, while others use their understanding of human behaviour in fields like education, business, community services, and research.
Common outcomes include roles in:
Counselling
Human resources
Market research
Social work
Education
Policy
While undergraduate degrees focus on psychology basics, specialised paths, like clinical psychology and forensic psychology, require further postgraduate study and registration, but are also possible.
Where you end up in your career depends on the specialisation you pursue and the level of study you complete.
For a closer look at specific roles, study requirements, and salary expectations, read our guide to psychology jobs and career pathways in Australia.
How can you get started in psychology?
The most common way for people to begin their psychology journey is with an undergraduate degree, building a foundation in topics like human behaviour, research methods, and psychological theories.
Some people study psychology as a standalone degree, while others combine it with a related discipline, such as criminology, social work or business. There are also options to start with shorter courses or single subjects if you’re unsure if psychology is the right fit for you, or if you’re not yet ready to commit to a full degree.
If you'd like to learn more, these guides are a good place to start:
Explore your psychology study options through us
If psychology has sparked your curiosity, the right course can help you turn that interest into something meaningful.
Compare online psychology courses from Australian universities through us, or use Help Me Choose to find a study option that fits your goals.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about psychology
Is psychology only about mental health?
No. Mental health is an important part of psychology, but the field also extends into topics like learning, workplace behaviour, social influence, decision-making and more. Psychology graduates might even find themselves working in fields that have nothing to do with clinical treatment.
Is psychology a science?
Yes. Psychology uses scientific methods, including observation, experimentation and data analysis, to study and explain behaviour and mental processes. It's classified as a social science.
Can psychology be applied outside healthcare settings?
Definitely. Psychology is used in workplaces, schools, courtrooms, sports teams, design and marketing. Anywhere human behaviour plays a role, psychological insight can be useful.
